http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-game-archaeologist-salutes-asherons-calls-12th-anniversary/

http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=677:happy-anniversary&catid=39:articles&Itemid=53

• The finished game contained approximately 2 million lines of code.
• At launch there were six servers available. These were Frostfell, Harvestgain, Leafcull, Morningthaw, Thistledown, and one player-killer server, Darktide!
• The sun has risen to shine on the lands of Dereth over 30,000 times!
• There have been 135 Updates and 2 expansion.

This is a game I missed out on playing back when it was first released.

I was so dedicated to UO, I didn't play anything else until later down the road.

But this, I missed.

Is it worth even trying out these days? I'm not worried about graphics; I think 90's games have very charming graphics, I'm mostly asking about gameplay and community.

If you have never played it then yes it is definitely worth trying out -- there is no other game like it.

The only people who it is really not there for are the people who played it a ton in the past and are considering coming back for the 7th time because it hit the milestone. 

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I really REALLY would like to see an asheron's call three.  They could even forget AC2 and call it asheron's call two.

The combat is very simplistic for melee/archery, and the graphics are on par with EQ1. Despite those drawbacks, the game is amazing. I have yet to find another mmorpg that is anything like AC. The loot system is the best one I have seen, and the skill-based progression is something that has been long forgotten.

Do yourself a favor and give it a try for a month or two. Regardless, if you stay or not, the experience is well worth it.

Originally posted by 8BitAvatar

This is a game I missed out on playing back when it was first released.

I was so dedicated to UO, I didn't play anything else until later down the road.

But this, I missed.

Is it worth even trying out these days? I'm not worried about graphics; I think 90's games have very charming graphics, I'm mostly asking about gameplay and community.

I went back to AC after a 6 year break back in February.  The graphics suck at first but they grow on you within days.  However the gameplay and style of gaming is IMO 2nd to none.  There are a few things that may make you not like it such as Mob pathing and UI is sometimes rubber bandy and the melee combat is shallow but fun if you set down and think about it.  All in all the content and game itself is head and shoulders way better then anything I have ever played.  There is just so much "meat" in the diet that makes it stand out.

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Originally posted by lilreap2k3
The combat is very simplistic for melee/archery, and the graphics are on par with EQ1. Despite those drawbacks, the game is amazing. I have yet to find another mmorpg that is anything like AC. The loot system is the best one I have seen, and the skill-based progression is something that has been long forgotten.

Do yourself a favor and give it a try for a month or two. Regardless, if you stay or not, the experience is well worth it.

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Hardly. EQ1 graphics are far superior to AC. Eq1 had many updates to the games engine and with everything maxed the game looks and feels great, but AC on the other hand still feels very outdated on the graphics but is a blast to play and still a great game.

 I wanted to quote everyone above me, cause there all right! But, I will just say If you are truly serious about not caring about graphics and have never played this game, it is a must try! Some of my best memories are from this game. I actually went back and played for about 6 months at the end of last year. I will 2nd the poster above that said the loot is 2nd to none, cause you can get epic looking and stat wise armor off any higher lvl mob in the game. You can acutally match armor from head to toe and (as good as them graphics can get it) look bad ass!

 Also I am a strong supporter of an AC3. I played AC2 and after there complete failure of a launch, it wound up being decent, but no where as good as one. And the mass exodous had already happened. But, if they could go back to the basics from one, I really think another AC would do well.